2020 KIA Niro 4 EV Electricity · AE70 WKS

The 2020 Kia Niro 4 EV holds a current MOT that passed on 1 October 2025 at 74,772 miles, but the maintenance trend is clearly worsening. The most recent test flagged all four tyres worn close to the legal limit or worn on edge, a sharp deterioration from the clean pass recorded just twelve months prior in October 2024 at 52,351 miles. This pattern suggests the vehicle has been driven hard with little attention to basic consumable upkeep in the last year. The mileage accumulation is unusually high for a six-year-old electric vehicle, averaging roughly 12,462 miles per year. More striking is the gap between the October 2023 test at 34,939 miles and the October 2024 test at 52,351 miles, representing 17,412 miles added in a single twelve-month period. That rapid accumulation accelerates wear on tyres, suspension bushes, brake components, and drivetrain mounts, all of which should be inspected carefully given the mileage profile. The October 2023 failure is the most concerning entry in the record. The tester flagged a leaking high-voltage battery, a defect that raises serious questions about the pack's structural integrity and long-term reliability. Although the vehicle passed the following year, a battery leak on an EV is not a minor fault and warrants a full diagnostic inspection of the battery tray, coolant lines, and underbody corrosion protection before purchase. The same test also recorded an offside front tyre with exposed cords and a defective wiper blade, pointing to a period of neglected maintenance. A buyer should focus the physical inspection on the underbody and wheel arches. Check the battery casing for signs of fluid residue, corrosion, or impact damage. Examine the tyre sidewalls and inner edges for uneven wear that could indicate suspension geometry issues or worn tracking. Given the high mileage and the edge wear noted on all four tyres at the last test, the front and rear suspension bushes, ball joints, and shock absorbers deserve close scrutiny. The braking system should also be inspected for uneven disc wear and binding calipers, as high-mileage EVs often show irregular brake use due to regenerative braking cycles.